Digital Desires, Real Losses: The Complex World of Online Romance Fraud

Wiederhold, BK. (2024) — Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking

DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2024.29311.editorial

Synopsis

This catalog-like overview surveys the constellation of online romance fraud within the domains of cyberpsychology, behavior, and social networking. It locates digital dating as a space where longing for connection can meet sophisticated deception, resulting in financial, emotional, and identity-related losses for participants. The discussion encompasses typologies of deceptive practices, including misrepresented identities, manipulated communications, and staged life narratives, and notes how platform design, algorithms, and social dynamics shape exposure to risk. The framing emphasizes ethical considerations, methodological challenges, and the need for interdisciplinary perspectives to understand the phenomenon. The analysis traces psychological processes involved in susceptibility and resilience, including attachment dynamics, perceived intimacy, trust calibration, and risk appraisal in online interactions. It also reviews the tactics scammers employ to establish credibility, elicit sympathy, and move conversations toward perceived investments or personal disclosures. The narrative considers the social and economic consequences for victims, the role of communities and bystander responses, and how reporting mechanisms and law enforcement intersect with platform policies. Finally, the entry highlights avenues for prevention, protection, and education within digital ecosystems, as well as gaps in research and practice. It points to the relevance of user education, transparency in platform design, improved detection tools, and cross-sector collaboration to reduce harm while preserving legitimate online dating experiences. The work situates online romance fraud within broader discussions of trust, safety, and digital citizenship in contemporary social networks.

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